Hearing in Hicks defamation lawsuit on Monday

Richmond Circuit Court site of 9 a.m. hearing

A hearing in Richmond Circuit Court is scheduled Monday morning at 9 o'clock for the lawsuit filed by three supervisors and an ex-supervisor against Gloucester Commonwealth's Attorney Bob Hicks.

It's unclear the nature of the hearing. Hicks declined to comment on legal proceedings and attempts Friday afternoon to reach attorneys involved in the case were unsuccessful.

Hicks is the target of $5.4 million in defamation lawsuits filed by Gloucester supervisors Bobby Crewe, Michelle Ressler and Gregory Woodard and ex-supervisor Teresa Altemus. The four plaintiffs filed the lawsuits on Nov. 3, 2009 — Election Day — over comments Hicks had made at a luncheon a year earlier.

The plaintiffs had been indicted on misdemeanor charges in 2008 that included abuse of office. The charges were later dismissed after Hicks had been replaced by a special prosecutor.

In August, Hicks apologized in an attempt to settle the lawsuit for making the statements. The statements were:

•"I think the cases were winnable."

•"I think I could have made those charges stick."

•"I think the charges are viable. I think they should have been heard in an open courtroom."

•And that he "could have secured convictions on some, if not all of the charges."

Hicks did not seek re-election this year after 17 years in office.

Altemus lost her re-election bid in 2009, as did Crewe this year. Ressler and Woodard did not seek re-election this year.